---
title: Insert a link
---

import {TabItem, Tabs} from "@astrojs/starlight/components";

import FlattenedSteps from "../../components/FlattenedSteps.astro";
import KeyboardTip from "../../components/KeyboardTip.astro";
import LinksExamples from "../include/_LinksExamples.mdx";
import LinksIntro from "../include/_LinksIntro.mdx";
import StartComposing from "../include/_StartComposing.mdx";

import LinkIcon from "~icons/zulip-icon/link";

<LinksIntro />

## Insert a link

<Tabs>
  <TabItem label="Via paste">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <StartComposing />

      1. Select the text you want to linkify.
      1. Paste a URL to turn the selected text into a named link.
    </FlattenedSteps>

    <KeyboardTip>
      You can also use <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>L</kbd>
      to insert link formatting.
    </KeyboardTip>
  </TabItem>

  <TabItem label="Via compose box button">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <StartComposing />

      1. Select the text you want to linkify.
      1. Click the **link** (<LinkIcon />) icon at the
         bottom of the compose box.
      1. Replace `url` with a valid URL.
    </FlattenedSteps>

    <KeyboardTip>
      You can also use <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>L</kbd>
      to insert link formatting.
    </KeyboardTip>
  </TabItem>

  <TabItem label="Via Markdown">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <StartComposing />

      1. To create a named link, use `[ ]` around the link text, and `( )` around the
         URL: `[Link text](URL)`.
    </FlattenedSteps>

    <KeyboardTip>
      You can also use <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>L</kbd>
      to insert link formatting.
    </KeyboardTip>
  </TabItem>
</Tabs>

## Examples

<LinksExamples />

## Related articles

* [Message formatting](/help/format-your-message-using-markdown)
* [Preview messages before sending](/help/preview-your-message-before-sending)
* [Resize the compose box](/help/resize-the-compose-box)
* [Animated GIFs](/help/animated-gifs-from-giphy)
* [Video calls](/help/start-a-call)
